Orlando Pirates' disappointing showing in the CAF Champions League over the last five years has left them having to start from the bottom again this year.
That means Pirates will not be amongst the elite list of clubs – who include Mamelodi Sundowns – given a bye in this round ,which involves plenty of the teams with slim chances of reaching the group stages.
READ | Sundowns take first step in foreign quota reshuffle
The Buccaneers have been handed CS Disciples, who were champions of Madagascar and got 20 million Malagasy Ariary (approx. R81 000) for their efforts.
For all the times that Pirates have played continental club football, this is the first time that they are up against opponents from Madagascar.
Jose Riveiro will not be travelling to this massive island country with a population of 29 million with Sunday's first leg being played in Saint Pierre, Mauritius.
There are no CAF approved stadia in Madagascar.
The return leg will be played on August 23 at Orlando Stadium.
The Soweto giants have had opposition from all the other Indian Ocean Island countries – Reunion, Seychelles, Mauritius, and Comoros – throughout the years and they have progressed on all those occasions, which came either in the first or second round of qualifiers.
While CS Disciples will be a fresh test, Pirates should proceed to the next round, where they will face either African Stars (Namibia) or Jwaneng Galaxy (Botswana) for the ticket into the group stage.
Jwaneng Galaxy knocked them out before the group stage last season, so their name brings painful memories for The Ghost.
Pirates are expected to not only get into the group stage this year but go through to the last eight and have a say in matters where the trophy lands in May next year.
READ: Nabi's concerns at Chiefs being addressed
Besides the Indian Ocean Island nations, their opponents in the CAF club competitions throughout the years have come from all neighbouring countries Eswatini, Lesotho, Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe and Mozambique along with the rest of the countries in the COSAFA region Angola, Malawi and Zambia.
Pirates have had opponents from further in the continent in countries like Nigeria, Gabon, Uganda, Cote d'Ivoire, Algeria, Morocco, DR Congo, Sudan, Ghana, Egypt, Congo-Brazzaville, Tunisia, Guinea, Cameroon, Gabon, Libya, Liberia and Tanzania.